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SCR 15

A concurrent resolution for the adoption of the Joint Rules of the Senate and House of Representatives.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jonathan Lindsey

Adopts unified Joint Rules for both chambers, standardizing how conference committees, enrollments, amendments, and transmission procedures are handled.

INTRODUCED BY SENATOR JONATHAN LINDSEY
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Bill Summary · SCR 15

Summary of SCR 15 (2025-2026) – Michigan

Purpose and intent

  • This concurrent resolution adopts the Joint Rules of the Senate and House of Representatives. In other words, it establishes a unified set of operating rules to govern legislative procedure for both chambers when acting together.

Key provisions and changes

  • The resolution codifies a comprehensive set of joint rules (Rules 1 through 29) addressing how legislative business should be conducted between the two houses. Major areas include:
    • Transmission of messages (Rule 1) and authority to amend amendments (Rule 2).
    • Structure and operation of conference committees, including composition (three Members from each house), chairmanship, procedures for concurring/non-concurring, reporting, and timing (Rules 3–9).
    • Clerk and conference committee logistics, including notification duties and use of fiscal agency personnel for appropriation matters (Rules 4, 24–25).
    • Handling of conference reports, including voting requirements, publication timing, and restrictions on amendments to conference reports (Rules 9–10).
    • Provisions for disagreement, recourse, and second conferences; limits on further conferences if a second conference fails (Rules 6–7).
    • Recede authority, correction of errors, and technical edits to enrolled bills or resolutions (Rules 11–12, 19–13).
    • Bill and joint resolution formatting and titles, including requirements for formatting amendments to existing law, printing conventions, and legislative review for form and section numbers (Rules 12, 20–21, 13).
    • Voting records, including required yeas and nays on key actions (Rule 14).
    • Procedures for absent members and emergency convenings; special provisions related to gubernatorial appointments during extended recesses (Rule 15).
    • Enrollment, presentation to the Governor, and transmission to the Secretary of State (Rule 16).
    • Use and purpose of joint resolutions (Rule 18) and the requirements for constitutional amendments and federal ratifications.
    • Specific rules on elections in joint conventions, legislative handbook preparation, and initial committee appointments (Rules 22–23).
    • Compensation processing for members and staff; committee expense limits; and tie-bar provisions (Rules 24–21).
    • Daily adjournment timing and procedures; rules governing adjournment schedules for regular sessions (Rules 26–28).
    • Provisions ensuring that pending business remains under constitutional procedures and restrictions on retroactive reconsideration (Rule 28).

Who or what would be affected

  • Members and staff of both the Michigan Senate and House of Representatives.
  • Legislative processes, especially concurrent actions such as conference committees, enrollment, and presentation to the Governor.
  • Budgetary and fiscal agencies involved in appropriation-related clerical work.
  • The Secretary of the Senate and Clerk of the House, who would implement and enforce these joint rules.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • The resolution itself is a formal adoption of the Joint Rules, effective upon passage (as part of the legislative rules governing proceedings).
  • Specific timing provisions within the rules:
    • Conference reports must be printed in the Journal and publicly available on the Legislature’s website for at least 72 hours before consideration, with limited suspension possible by a majority vote.
    • Enrollment printing and presentation steps occur after conference reports are adopted, with certain conditions allowing for corrections or expedited processing.
    • Immediate effect provisions and the process for gubernatorial appointments during extended recesses are outlined to ensure constitutional duties can be carried out when necessary.
  • The rules delineate the sequencing and voting requirements (yeas and nays) for critical actions, mirroring the constitutional standards for passage or adoption.

Practical implications

  • Provides a unified, codified framework for inter-chamber cooperation, reducing ambiguity in how amendments, conference reports, and enrollments are handled.
  • Establishes clear timelines for transparency (publication of conference reports) and procedural discipline (limits on non-conforming conference actions, second conferences, and corrections).
  • Aims to standardize practices across the Legislature, potentially affecting efficiency and predictability of legislative processes.

Note: This summary focuses on the substantive content and potential impact of SCR 15 as a framework for Joint Rules governing Michigan's Senate and House procedures.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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